French coin activated triple singing bird automaton, by Bontems, with traditional brass mechanism with an electric drive on a gold painted pedestal, the three caged birds with moving heads, beaks and tails in a naturalistic setting, in good working order. Height 1,40 cm. Provenance: originally acquired from R. McNeil & Co., 16 Wydon Street, London, c. 1940s-1950s; Bryan Jackson collection of music boxes and toys